O’Brien feared his career was over

TIM O’Brien admits he feared his AFL career was coming to an end before joining the Western Bulldogs as an unrestricted free agent.

The 27-year-old was traded to the Bulldogs last week, signing a two-year deal after playing 97 games at Hawthorn.

The ex-Hawk was asked whether he had any fears that his AFL career might be over at any stage over the last few weeks.

“I always held onto hope and believed in myself that I’d be able to find another chance at it,” O’Brien told SEN’s Bob and Andy.

“But there’s always thoughts that come into your head that that was a genuine chance [my career was over].

“I do carpentry on the side, so I was thinking in a week or two I could be a chippy.

“There are all those things that come into your mind, but I backed myself in that I would be able to find a home somewhere else if it wasn’t going to be at the Hawthorn footy club.”

O’Brien, a key position utility, is looking forward to a fresh start at the Dogs and working on his defensive craft.

“I haven’t spent a lot of time nailed down in the defensive end, I’ve obviously pinched hit there a little bit,” he said.

“But that’s one thing I’m really excited about because I think my skillset is well suited to the back end, especially with how footy is played at the minute.

“I actually had a conversation with Clarko [Alastair Clarkson]… and he always thought the back end was going to be the best, but for whatever reason at different times, he needed me to play forward.

“It’s exciting the Bulldogs need a player like me, I’ve got the skillset to do it and I’ve got the whole pre-season to knuckle down and have a good run at it.”

O’Brien was selected with pick number 28 in the 2012 National Draft.

– BY ALEX ZAIA/ SEN